HELLS HEADBANGERS is proud to reissue MORTICIAN’s cult-classic EP Zombie Apocalypse on jewel case CD, featuring a blue disc and an 8-page booklet with a refreshed layout overseen by the band.
MORTICIAN’s Zombie Apocalypse EP, originally released in 1998, captures everything fans value about the band’s pulverizing approach while expanding their sound in a meaningful way. Notably, this period marked the addition of second guitarist Desmond Tolhurst, who also jams on bass in MALIGNANCY alongside Roger J. Beaujard and Ron Kachnic. His presence contributes to a thicker, more overwhelming wall of sound throughout the recording. Though often described as brief, the EP actually runs over 27 minutes, packing its runtime with crushing riffs, cavernous vocals, and the unmistakable aura of classic horror cinema.
The title track, “Zombie Apocalypse”, stands firmly at the center of the EP. Its colossal opening riff moves with the slow and unstoppable weight of an undead swarm, and once the drums ignite, the song erupts with savage energy that remains instantly memorable. The shifts between lumbering mid paced grooves and sudden bursts of speed create a volatile rhythm that only MORTICIAN can deliver. With the addition of a second guitarist, the tone feels even thicker and more punishing, while the vocals sink into a deep and ominous growl.

Elsewhere, “Slaughterhouse” and “Hell on Earth” highlight MORTICIAN’s ability to create variation within their extreme framework. “Slaughterhouse” launches with frantic immediacy, built on simple yet remarkably forceful ideas. “Hell on Earth” leans into atmosphere, allowing a swirl of horror samples to set the scene before the band unleashes fierce blasts and bone shaking chugs. These moments show how MORTICIAN fuse cinematic tension with relentless brutality.

The production enhances every destructive element of the EP. The guitars, now supported by the dual attack of Beaujard and Tolhurst, feel seismic in weight, while the drum programming slices through the dense mix with clinical precision. It is the familiar balance of chaos and clarity that defined their early era, presented here with extra girth and impact.

Zombie Apocalypse succeeds because it distills MORTICIAN’s signature heaviness into a concentrated and highly replayable experience. With its grisly atmosphere, monstrous tone, added guitar power, and runtime just beyond 27 minutes, the EP remains one of their most exciting and essential releases. For fans of the most extreme edges of death metal, this stands as a defining strike of MORTICIAN’s uncompromising brutality.